“A wildly inventive tale of how we forge our identities online, Nice Places could be the Eat, Pray, Love of the Instagram generation. A book that sends up the cliches of travel culture while celebrating travel’s life-affirming qualities. An ingenious premise that unfolds into a profound meditation on the attempt to lead a meaningful life. Chu’s writing is addictive and hilarious.”—Kate Folk, author of Sky Daddy“A swift, delightful, heartfelt novel about feeling very small within an impossibly large world, Nice Places manages something rare: it lets us in on what feels like one of those intangible questions of life while at the same causing us to wonder, is it really that important to find an answer? Thoughtful and compelling, this is a novel that will stay with me a long time.”—Jinwoo Chong, author of I Leave It Up To You and Flux“At times humorous and biting, other times joyous and tender, Vincent Chu's Nice Places explores the journey we all take to find where we belong. Peopled with characters you come to love and root for, Nice Places is all heart!” —Tomas Moniz, author of All Friends Are Necessary“Vincent Chu has struck a blow for office workers everywhere. Nice Places won’t take you on a dream trip, but it will bring you somewhere unexpected. I laughed, I cringed, I questioned every word of my LinkedIn profile!”—Ed Lin, author of the Taipei Night Market novels“Like an inside-out Atlas Obscura, Nice Places catalogues the quirky adventures and awakenings that await us right here at home when familiar territory seems to rearrange itself.”—Soma Mei Sheng Frazier, author of Off the Books"Like all absurdist novels in absurd times, Nice Places has the gall—and the decency—to make you laugh at the world, at your life, and at yourself.” —Patrick Nathan, author of The Future Was ColorPraise for Like a Champion“One of my favorite story collections I’ve read in a while.”—Tao Lin, author of Leave Society and Taipei“Chu takes us into the hearts of characters whose misguided optimism seems destined for a cruel reckoning. The brilliance of this collection is not only these complex portrayals but the surprising twists that make us nod in recognition at what makes us hopeful and human.”—Jimin Han, author of A Small Revolution“In Like a Champion, Vincent Chu decidedly hands us a triumphant collection of surprising, energetic stories and good, weird, sometimes sad people. It is an intimate book that made me laugh out loud more than once. We are safe in Chu’s hands as he tackles the anxious thoughts of people who want to be loved and included, of characters all-too-painfully human.”—Leesa Cross-Smith, author of Whiskey & Ribbons“Vincent Chu can do many things, tell a story, create indelible characters, and craft spot-on dialogue, but what he does most movingly in Like a Champion is unpack our greatest fears, hopes and desires, in other words, what makes us human.”—Ben Tanzer, author of Be Cool“Chu finds ways to turn the everyday into the revelatory... Chu’s stories are solidly realistic in their scope, exploring everyday issues with charm and empathy—and occasional moments of unexpected humor.”—Kirkus Reviews“Vincent Chu takes us on a journey through real life, with brief glimpses into the lives of diverse characters. While each character and story is different, there is something relatable about them all. You'll find yourself among friends in these stories."—San Francisco Book Review“Like a Champion celebrates the underdogs and second bests—and finds the light when all we might see is the darkness.”—Alameda Magazine
